As the Year of the Horse approaches, the “Suzhou—City of Crafts and Folk Art” Exhibition cum the “Extraordinary Festival” Year of the Horse ICH Series, the first large-scale theme exhibition of Suzhou’s intangible cultural heritage held in shopping mall in the country, kicked off at Suzhou Center Mall on Feb 6. Jointly organized by the Suzhou Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection and Management Office and the Suzhou Cultural Activities Exchange Center, the event integrates exhibitions, workshops, performances and creative cultural products, and connects with a series of festival celebrations such as a Spring Festival market and a special costume show, demonstrating authentic Spring Festival atmosphere of Suzhou right at the heart of the city’s prosperity.
The exhibition will last for about a month, with 104 artworks featuring representative elements of Suzhou’s ICH, such as Suzhou-style embroidery, Kesi (a traditional Chinese silk tapestry weaving method), jade carving, and lacquerware. Among them are creations by 4 national-level and 52 provincial-level ICH inheritors, alongside museum-collected pieces unveiled for the first time, making the exhibition the first commercial ICH exhibition of its kind in both scale and grade nationwide.
The exhibition space is ingeniously divided into four thematic areas, each revealing a different scene and together outlining a complete picture of Jiangnan life aesthetics. The formal dress for a baby celebrating its first birthday features an exquisite pattern of the fortune-bringing fish-holding boy crafted with Kesi techniques, while the “Koi” series showcase the lively vitality of Kesi techniques. The double-sided embroidery captures the serene elegance of water lilies, while the carvings on inkstones look like paintings drawn with brush.
During the Spring Festival, six ICH experts will show up at the exhibition, sharing their experiences as an ICH inheritor. Additionally, eight ICH workshops covering guqin (zither), nut carving, jade carving, Suzhou-style bonsai and gold/silver wire inlay will be held. Participants can experience the traditional techniques in person under the direction of the experts.
The “ICH Lantern Charm” show will showcase eight ICH elements like paper-cutting, New Year paintings and kites through elaborate costumes and lantern displays. Dragon and lion dances and high-pole performances will be staged on the first day of the first month on the Chinese lunar calendar. The Spring Festival market on the third floor offers traditional food and gorgeous cultural products such as Song brocade and fragrance ointment.
The event is transforming the profound heritage of Suzhou as a “City of Crafts and Folk Art” into accessible, participatory and consumable modern urban public products. By crafting a cultural space that combines traditional elements with youthful expression, Suzhou Center Mall has successfully brought millennia of craftsmanship out of museums and integrated it into the vibrant daily life. In the new year, the mall will continue to serve as a platform for convergence and innovation of traditional culture and modern trends.
